Motorsport News November 10, 2022

Ferrari is in mourning this week after the passing of its long-serving technical director Mauro Forghieri. The Italian was the inspiration behind so much success for the Scuderia over the course of three decades and it is very unlikely that his like will be seen again. Forghieri is one of those engineers and designers who had it all. He would be as involved in the chassis as he was the gearbox design and engine developments. In this day and age, engineers tend to be focused on a particular part of the design and development process but, in bygone years, the man at the helm was literally in charge of everything. And Forghieri too wasn’t just turning his attention to one sole programme. He worked on sportscars too and was responsible for the…

Formula 1 team bosses are considering imposing a two-week winter shutdown in an effort to protect their staff. The Formula 1 calendar features a record 23 races next term which is likely to have an impact on staff well-being, according to leading team chiefs. F1 already has a summer lockdown in August, but the plan is to have another that in late December. Merc head Toto Wolff said: “There are many of us team principals that would like to replicate what we have in the summer, at least starting at Christmas and going into the new year for two weeks. Obviously that’s still up for discussion. But there was a positive indication, for the well-being of the people.” There are talks taking place with F1’s Sporting Advisory Committee although no agreement has yet…

Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto has led the tributes to legendary designer Mauro Forghieri who passed away last week at the age of 87. The Italian spent 27 years at the Scuderia before moving on to other projects. During his time at Maranello, the squad claimed four drivers’ titles and seven constructors’ crowns. He joined Ferrari in 1960 and was quickly promoted to the top of the engineering department after other members of the team left. He held the post of technical director through to the end of 1984. As well as working on Ferrari’s sportscars – including the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO – he will be most widely remembered for devising the 312 series of Formula 1 cars, which enjoyed huge success in the 1970s. Binotto said: “He was, to the end,…

Mercedes F1 supremo Toto Wolff says proving the pace of this year’s recalcitrant W13 chassis would be more important than eclipsing Ferrari in the in the constructors’ points. The car has proved difficult for the drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to tame this season and it was badly afflicted by porpoising over the opening races of the season. The team has worked hard to rectify it and Hamilton was in the hunt for victory at the recent Mexican Grand Prix. Mercedes is 40 points behind Ferrari in the makes’ chase with two rounds remaining. Wolff said: “The win would be proof that our car is back to fight for wins. P2 could also be because the others dropped the ball and you’re just scoring more points.” “[Runner-up spot] would definitely be…

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly will race with the threat of a one-race ban hanging over him until May next year. The one-time F1 race winner, who is due to join the Alpine team in 2023, picked up a further point on his race licence when he was deemed to have strayed outside track limits in a battle with Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll at the recent Mexican Grand Prix. It means he now has 10 black marks on his race permit and they last for one year. Should he get a further two points, he will be forced to sit out a grand prix. The first licence points he can lose are in May 2023. “They [the stewards] seem to be quite harsh lately,” the driver told Autosport. “I think it…

Alfa Romeo Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas will team up with his countryman Mika Hakkinen to take part in next year’s Race of Champions. The Finn, an F1 title runner-up, was due to take part in the 2022 edition until a late clash of commitments meant he was forced to pull out. However, he has now committed to the January 28-29, 2023, event, which will take place at Pite Havsbad in Sweden. “I’m really looking forward to being able to make my Race of Champions debut at last! I’ve watched the event on TV for many years and I came so close to competing last year until I had to pull out at the last minute,” Bottas said. “I’m also thrilled to be able to partner Mika Hakkinen for Team Finland in…